BITS & PIECES

VFW Retirement Home plans 9/11 tribute; you're invited

By Emory SchleyColumnist

Published: Monday, September 10, 2012 at 4:20 p.m.

Last Modified: Monday, September 10, 2012 at 4:20 p.m.

Today, the 11th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the United States, the VFW Retirement Home in Fort McCoy will host its annual Tribute to First Responders. Participating will be Marion County Fire Rescue, the Marion County Sheriff's Office, the Marion County Pipe and Drum Band and the North Marion High School Air Force JROTC.

“American Idol” contestant Steffanie Renae will entertain. Other participants will include representatives from the Department of Florida VFW and Ladies Auxiliary, Air Force Association, American Legion Riders Chapter 284, First Baptist Church of Salt Springs, Girl Scouts and local veterans groups.

There will be a presentation of wreaths and more in this free event, which is open to the public. Complimentary food and beverages will be served.

For more information, contact Gera Judge or Pam Lotman at 236-0823.

THE ‘REAL' SUPERMAN: The Villages' Pat Holman wrote: “I read in your column the other day your anticipated wait for the ‘Superman, Man of Steel' movie slated to come out in early 2013. A good portion of that movie was filmed in Plano and Aurora, Ill. While filming in Plano, our friends called it ‘Smallville, the Beginning.' Plano is a small town about 60 miles southwest of Chicago. After retiring, my husband and I moved from Chicago to a small town called Oswego before moving to The Villages. I worked as a church secretary for the United Methodist Church in the town of Plano, which has a main street about three blocks long. The whole main street was turned into Smallville and I believe the church is also in the movie. A member of the church had an ongoing site covering the filming placed on Facebook. One of our good friends worked security for the movie company. It was interesting to watch on Facebook the filming of some of the action and the candid shots of the actors. Using Plano as the site for this film was an exciting time for this small community. Thought you might like a little info regarding the making of this movie.”

Thanks, Pat, I've always wanted to see a movie in production, but it hasn't happened yet. It's on my bucket list!

NOT BIG ENOUGH?: SummerGlen's Laura Hoak wrote: “Many of your readers probably saw the TV interview with Jackie Siegel concerning the 90,000-square-foot home she and her husband David are having built in Florida. It will be the ‘biggest house in America' and they are calling it their Versailles. This couple already live in a 26,000-square-foot house, and I guess that is not big enough for them. This reminds me of an economics concept I learned in my micro-economics course. It is the concept of ‘scarcity,' which basically says ‘all individuals, whether rich or poor, are dissatisfied with their material well-being and would like more. No matter how affluent an individual is, the wish list continues to grow.' How sad that there are homeless and hungry people in America, and someone is spending their money on a 90,000-square-foot house.”

Laura, some years ago, I was watching one of those TV evangelists explain how he, his wife and their two children were “forced” to seek larger quarters because their “modest” 40,000-square-foot home was just “too cramped and confining.” Poor fellow, I almost couldn't go to sleep that night worrying about his “plight.” (You DO believe that “lost sleep” part, right?) I later calculated his “too cramped” home was approximately 32 times larger than our home in Marion Oaks. I just may have some additional difficulty sleeping tonight after reminding myself of that poor individual's terrible problem!

WHATTTT?: Summerfield's Jake Jachna wrote: “I did my Random Act of Kindness today. Took the wife for another CAT scan at Sumter Landing and on the way home we stopped at Beall's on 441 in The Villages for their big sale. Found a nice shirt and when I went to try it on, I found a wallet — just credit cards and money — on the bench. So, I treated my wife to all kinds of nice gifts with the credit cards. Then used the cash for our evening meal. Life is good!

“Just kidding. I turned it in to the cashier. I hope she found the owner. I didn't even bother to check the name.”

Whoaaa, Jake, you had me all agitated and upset there for a minute. I'm afraid I'm going to have to penalize you an additional half-dozen RAKs for raising this Olde Codger's blood pressure like that!

Send comments to slyguy73@gmail.com and include your FULL name and town. This column appears each Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday and online at ocala.com.

<p>Today, the 11th anniversary of the terrorist attacks on the United States, the VFW Retirement Home in Fort McCoy will host its annual Tribute to First Responders. Participating will be Marion County Fire Rescue, the Marion County Sheriff's Office, the Marion County Pipe and Drum Band and the North Marion High School Air Force JROTC.</p><p> The tribute is slated for 6:30 p.m. at the home, 13005 NE 135th St., Fort McCoy. Guest speakers include VFW State Commander <b>Wayne Carrignan</b>, Marion County Fire Rescue Chief <b>M. Stuart McElhaney</b> and Marion County Undersheriff <b>Dan Kuhn</b>.</p><p>“American Idol” contestant <b>Steffanie Renae</b> will entertain. Other participants will include representatives from the Department of Florida VFW and Ladies Auxiliary, Air Force Association, American Legion Riders Chapter 284, First Baptist Church of Salt Springs, Girl Scouts and local veterans groups.</p><p>There will be a presentation of wreaths and more in this free event, which is open to the public. Complimentary food and beverages will be served.</p><p>For more information, contact <b>Gera Judge</b> or <b>Pam Lotman</b> at 236-0823.</p><p><b>THE 'REAL' SUPERMAN</b>: The Villages' <b>Pat Holman</b> wrote: “I read in your column the other day your anticipated wait for the 'Superman, Man of Steel' movie slated to come out in early 2013. A good portion of that movie was filmed in Plano and Aurora, Ill. While filming in Plano, our friends called it 'Smallville, the Beginning.' Plano is a small town about 60 miles southwest of Chicago. After retiring, my husband and I moved from Chicago to a small town called Oswego before moving to The Villages. I worked as a church secretary for the United Methodist Church in the town of Plano, which has a main street about three blocks long. The whole main street was turned into Smallville and I believe the church is also in the movie. A member of the church had an ongoing site covering the filming placed on Facebook. One of our good friends worked security for the movie company. It was interesting to watch on Facebook the filming of some of the action and the candid shots of the actors. Using Plano as the site for this film was an exciting time for this small community. Thought you might like a little info regarding the making of this movie.”</p><p><i>Thanks, Pat, I've always wanted to see a movie in production, but it hasn't happened yet. It's on my bucket list!</i></p><p><b>NOT BIG ENOUGH?</b>: SummerGlen's <b>Laura Hoak</b> wrote: “Many of your readers probably saw the TV interview with Jackie Siegel concerning the 90,000-square-foot home she and her husband David are having built in Florida. It will be the 'biggest house in America' and they are calling it their Versailles. This couple already live in a 26,000-square-foot house, and I guess that is not big enough for them. This reminds me of an economics concept I learned in my micro-economics course. It is the concept of 'scarcity,' which basically says 'all individuals, whether rich or poor, are dissatisfied with their material well-being and would like more. No matter how affluent an individual is, the wish list continues to grow.' How sad that there are homeless and hungry people in America, and someone is spending their money on a 90,000-square-foot house.”</p><p><i>Laura, some years ago, I was watching one of those TV evangelists explain how he, his wife and their two children were “forced” to seek larger quarters because their “modest” 40,000-square-foot home was just “too cramped and confining.” Poor fellow, I almost couldn't go to sleep that night worrying about his “plight.” (You DO believe that “lost sleep” part, right?) I later calculated his “too cramped” home was approximately 32 times larger than our home in Marion Oaks. I just may have some additional difficulty sleeping tonight after reminding myself of that poor individual's terrible problem!</i></p><p><b>WHATTTT?</b>: Summerfield's <b>Jake Jachna</b> wrote: “I did my Random Act of Kindness today. Took the wife for another CAT scan at Sumter Landing and on the way home we stopped at Beall's on 441 in The Villages for their big sale. Found a nice shirt and when I went to try it on, I found a wallet — just credit cards and money — on the bench. So, I treated my wife to all kinds of nice gifts with the credit cards. Then used the cash for our evening meal. Life is good!</p><p>“Just kidding. I turned it in to the cashier. I hope she found the owner. I didn't even bother to check the name.”</p><p><i>Whoaaa, Jake, you had me all agitated and upset there for a minute. I'm afraid I'm going to have to penalize you an additional half-dozen RAKs for raising this Olde Codger's blood pressure like that!</i></p><p><i>Send comments to slyguy73@gmail.com and include your FULL name and town. This column appears each Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday and online at ocala.com. </i></p>